The last twelve months have been eventful for Tokyo-based instrumentalists LITE. After the critical acclaim for their debut “Filmlets”, the band have toured Japan constantly and embarked on their second UK & Ireland tour last September. Following an appearance at Fuji Rock Festival, the quartet released a split CD with Funanori (Go! Team guitarist Kaori Tsuchida and Mike Watt) and teamed up with Watt again in February this year to host his Brother’s Sister’s Daughter Japan tour.

With the forthcoming release of their second full-length, “Phantasia”, the effect of this frantic rate of activity is clear. The band have honed their songwriting powers and allied to their jaw-dropping instrumental prowess and mastery of the studio, the result is an immensely varied and satisfying album.

Formed in 2003, LITE’s cinematic sound combines math-rock power and precision with emotionally charged compositions. The band - Nobuyuki Takeda (guitar), Kozo Kusumoto (guitar), Jun Izawa (bass), Akinori Yamamoto (drums) - have risen to prominence over the course of a handful of releases and on the strength of their incendiary live show.

Although darker in parts to its predecessor, “Phantasia” runs the gamut from Crimson-esque jazz-rock to full-scale guitar assault as on “Contra” or the blistering opener “Ef” which has been re-recorded and reignited with the fury of its live rendition.

There are lighter moments too such as the shimmering pop of “Ghost Dance” or the beautiful, cello-driven “Sequel to the Letter”. And on “Infinite Mirror”, Nobuyuki and Kozo’s trademark dual-guitar lines intertwine over a hypnotic motorik groove that is easily one of the band’s most accessible moments yet.

Throughout, there are stories woven into these grooves; the sea-faring tragedy “Shinkai” and the melancholic “Solitude” illustrate the band’s increasing maturity as songwriters. With “Phantasia”, LITE is set to cement its reputation as one of the most exciting bands to have emerged from Japan in recent years.

Official website : http://lite-web.com/
MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/liteband